Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1887-02-18


PITIFULLY.
"She'Q be better soon," said the deep
raspiug voice of Mr.. Arnold. while his
chin seemed degree higher in the air.
and his mouth WAS close rs steel trap,
Helen heard the bitter tauut, and all
her noble soul aroused, she cried:
Judge Arnold. l never put that
bracelet in my carpet-bag. l never
stole it, | am innocent, and you know
it"
"Oh yes" and the chin and short
roam whiskers rose higher, Il have seen
many as equally innocent; never
heard one plead guilty on the first
accusation"
''Some of your own family put that
jewel in my carpet bag to ruin me,
sobbed Helen.
80 dear" cried Halle, with tri-
umphant irony.
That's an old dodge" said the man
in the doorway. "A thief is always
imagining that somebody's trying to
ruin his character. Now, that bracelet
is worth twenty dollars; you will have
to explain how the stolen property got
into your possession, or you may get
into trouble"
Judge Arnold" said Helen, rising
and bringing all the energy which she
felt in her case required at her COM
mand, Il swear, so help me Heaven!
that | never touched that bracelet since
my mother owned 4. 1t was put in
my carpet bag by other hands than
mine"
"Helen Lakeman," said Mrs. Arnold,
confronting the beautiful girl, with her
head high in the air, lit is bad enough
for you to steal bracelet without add
ing perjury to your crime"
Helen was shocked. She realized
how hopeless was her condition. She
had been completely trapped. Every
thing was against her, and yet she was
| innocent. 1t was no use to accuse
these people, whose standing in society
was higher than her own, of putting
the bracelet in her carpet bag to ruin
her. No one would believe her.
Helen, with tirmness born of
despair, sat down in her chair again.
All the emotion attendant upon the first
shock being gone, she was calm. Her
calmness could be called either con-
| scious innocence, or the brazen indif-
ference of a guilty soul.
"Do your worst" she said. II am in
your power.
what do you think we would want
to ruin your character for ?" sneered
Halle, rubbing her bracelet to get of
the stain of the chiefs fingers" edo
you suppose we find you in our way P"
Helen was silent. 1t was useless to
exchange words with these people.
II don't think young girl of sixteen
who comes in after dark through the
rain with a peddler can have much
character to boast of, said Mrs
Arnold, her head turned upward and
sideways, so that she might get view
of the culprits face from beneath her
| glasses.
That's what you get by takin' such
trash in your house." said the stern
man at the door, his chin coming up
again.
1--WE can go now if you wish to get
rid of us, said Helen.
''Oh, no, don't trouble yourself. We
don't want to get rid Of you just yet,
so you need not hurry yourself
"Do you mean, Judge Arnold, that |
am to be arrested for this?" Helen
asked, calmly.
Il am inclined to the opinion you
will" the Judge answered. Why the
farmer was called Judge, Helen did not
know. Titles are cheap, and the num-
Der of colonies, judges, and generals
we have in our country is astonishing,
and the list increases every day.
Then, sir" said Helen, Il will wait
here. / am innocent, and know that
God in His goodness will, in some way,
see that / am indicated"
"You had better depend upon Him,
for He is the only one who can do you
any good said the iron man, with an
irreverent wit, which he enjoyed.
Helen again relapsed into silence.
and her little brother, groaning with
pain, drew chair up by her side,
climbed into it and lay down with his
head in her lap. She folded her arms
about him, feeling that it was the last
time in life she would ever be permit
ted to take him to her heart.
Mrs. Arnold, having satisfied herself
that nothing else was gone, was called
out by her husband, and the door closed
and locked. The hired man was left
as guard. and Mr.. Arnold got into
his carriage and drove away to Newton
alone. Helen sat there with the little
hot head in her lap. Great tears arose
in her eyes, and she tried to pray. but
could not God would surely not desert
her. She had read of so many persons
punished for crimes they had never
committed that she feared she must
suffer for this. Helen was not one
of those romantic girls who wished
to be heroine or a martyr. She was
content to 1--we humbly. to have no mis-
sion save that of helping her crippled
brother. The child closed his feverish
eyes and slept .'Sleep ON, little
brother" said Helen. softly, Heaven
only knows where your little head will
rest tonight {"
She did not weep now. her great
calamity had dried up the fountain Of
her grief But silent, cold and deter
mined, she sat there, trying to bring
herself TO face the inevitable.
If they win only let me take my lit
tie brother with me, shall not MUIR
muir" she said TO herself.
Then she thought of the tempest OF
the day before. How much better it
would have been if both herself and
brother had been killed by the light
ming than lived to see this day. What
evil had brought her to this house. A
natural chain Of reflections brought
Pete, the petdler. TO her memory